Method for making composite material with a high-density array of carbon nanotubes

Abstract

A method for producing a composite material with high-density array of carbon nanotubes, includes the steps of: (a) providing a substrate with an array of carbon nanotubes formed thereon; (b) applying a liquid polymer precursor to the array of carbon nanotubes such that the liquid polymer precursor infuses into the array of carbon nanotubes; (c) compressing the array of carbon nanotubes in directions parallel to a first axis parallel to a surface of the substrate to form a high-density array of carbon nanotubes with a density in the approximate range from 0.1 g/cm 3 to 2.2 g/cm 3 ; and (d) polymerizing the liquid polymer precursor to form a composite material comprising a polymer matrix with the high-density array of carbon nanotubes incorporated therein.

1 . A method for producing a composite material with high-density array of carbon nanotubes, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a substrate with an array of carbon nanotubes formed thereon;   (b) applying a liquid polymer precursor to the array of carbon nanotubes such that the liquid polymer precursor infuses into the array of carbon nanotubes;   (c) compressing the array of carbon nanotubes in directions parallel to a first axis parallel to a surface of the substrate to form a high-density array of carbon nanotubes with a density in the approximate range from 0.1 g/cm 3  to 2.2 g/cm 3 ; and   (d) polymerizing the liquid polymer precursor to form a composite material comprising a polymer matrix with the high-density array of carbon nanotubes incorporated therein.   
   
   
       2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising compressing the array of carbon nanotubes in directions parallel to a second axis parallel to the surface of the substrate to form the high-density array of carbon nanotubes, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis. 
   
   
       3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises the step of dropping the liquid polymer precursor into the array of carbon nanotubes. 
   
   
       4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the array of carbon nanotubes is compressed in a vacuum chamber. 
   
   
       5 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein a degree of vacuum is less than 0.2 atmospheric pressures. 
   
   
       6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the liquid polymer precursor contains a solidifying agent. 
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the solidifying agent is comprised of epoxy agent, alkaline solidifying agent and acid solidifying agent; and the alkaline solidifying agent is comprised at least one of aliphatic diamine, aromatic polyamines, modified fatty amines and other nitrogen compounds, and the acidic solidifying agent is comprised at least one of organic acid, acid anhydride, boron trifluoride and complex of them. 
   
   
       8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a step of solidifying the polymerized polymer precursor at room temperature or at a raised temperature.